SAXS study of polymer adsorption on porous ZrO2

The small‐angle X‐ray scattering method (SAXS) has been used for the analysis of polymer adsorption on porous ZrO₂. Particular attention has been paid to the adsorption of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) on the surface of porous ZrO₂. It has been established that the SAXS method determines whether the polymer has penetrated the carrier's pores, and that polymers of low molecular weight create a thin transition layer on the surface of ZrO₂ (understood in the context of a change in the electron density). The creation of this layer is clearly reflected in the run of SAXS curves (Porod's plot). Ruland–Vonk's method has been used to determine the thickness of the transition layer. The results are consistent with those obtained when the viscosity method was used. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of adsorption affinity of polyacrylic acid for surfaces of mixed silica–alumina

The influence of solution pH (in the range 3–9) on the adsorption of polyacrylic acid (PAA) on the mixed silica–alumina surface (SA-3: SiO₂ 97 %–Al₂O₃ 3 % and SA-96: SiO₂ 4 %–Al₂O₃ 96 %) was investigated. The following methods were applied in experiments: spectrophotometry, viscosimetry, potentiometric titration, and microelectrophoresis, which enable determination of adsorbed amount of the polymer, thickness of its adsorption layers, surface charge density, and zeta potential of solid particles in the presence and absence of PAA, respectively. The obtained results indicate that rise of solution pH causes the decrease of PAA adsorption and the increase of its adsorption layer thickness on surfaces of both solids. Moreover, significantly higher adsorption of polyacrylic acid was obtained on the SA-96 surface. This is a result of more favorable electrostatic interactions occurring between the adsorbing polymer chains and the SA-96 surface and formation of a greater number of adsorbate-adsorbent connections through hydrogen bridges.     

Studies of temperature influence on adsorption behaviour of nonionic polymers at the zirconia–solution interface

The temperature influence (15–35 °C) on the adsorption mechanism and conformation of nonionic polymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) on the zirconium dioxide surface was examined. The applied techniques (spectrophotometry, viscosimetry, potentiometric titration and microelectrophoresis) allowed characterization of the changes in structure and thickness of polymer adsorption layers with the increasing temperature. The rise of temperature favours more stretched conformation of polymer chains on the ZrO₂ surface, which results in higher adsorption and thicker adsorption layer. Moreover, these conformational changes of adsorbed macromolecules affect the electric (solid surface charge density) and electrokinetic (zeta potential) properties of the zirconia–polymer interface. The obtained data indicate that the polyvinyl alcohol adsorption has a greater influence on zirconia properties in comparison to that of PEG and PEO. It is due to the presence of acetate groups in the PVA macromolecules (degree of hydrolysis 97.5%), which undergo dissociation.     

Influence of solution pH on stability of aluminum oxide suspension in presence of polyacrylic acid

The effect of solution pH and molecular weight of polyacrylic acid (PAA) on its adsorption as well as on stabilization-floculation properties of the colloidal Al₂O₃ and electrolyte solution systems was studied. The measurements showed that at pH = 6, the presence of the polymer of molecular weight 2?000 and 240?000 does not change stability of Al₂O₃ suspension. However at pH =3 and 9 the effect of polyacrylic acid is significant. At pH = 3 it creates destabilization of the suspension while at pH = 9 PAA it improves significantly the stability of Al₂O₃. It was shown that the increase in solution pH affects conformation of adsorbed macromolecules which causes the decrease in PAA adsorbed amount and thickness of polymer adsorption layer. By comparing the values of diffusion layer and surface charges, main effects responsible for the decrease in surface charge and ζ potential of the solid in the presence of the polymer as well as suspension stability were determined.     

Interparticle forces arising from an adsorbed strong polyelectrolyte in colloidal dispersions: charged patch attraction

Adsorbed polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) shifts the pH of the zero zeta potential, pH_ς = 0, of ZrO₂ to a lower pH. The positive charge density of ZrO₂ at pH = pH_ς=0 determined from the amount of PSS adsorbed was in excellent agreement with that obtained from charge titration. Polystyrene sulphonic acid shifts pH_ς=0 to a greater degree compared with polyacrylic acid because it is a much stronger acid. A patch is likely to just consist of one adsorbed molecule. The patch is negative when the charges of the molecule exceed the underlying positive surface charge. Attraction between the negative patch and the bare positive surface of a second particle is responsible for increasing the yield stress of concentrated ZrO₂ dispersions at pH_ς=0. Its magnitude is only of the order of the van der Waals attraction. Increasing ionic strength and patch misalignment diminish the attraction. The upper limit of the patch area was estimated from the radius of gyration of the molecule in solution. With a known patch area, the patch charged density can be calculated. With the selection of an appropriate patch area, the yield stress due to charged patch attraction increases linearly with the product of the negative and positive patch densities. Received: 30 March 1998 Accepted: 18 September 1998     

Temperature effect on adsorption properties of silica-polyacrylic acid interface

The temperature influence (15–35 °C) on the adsorption mechanism and conformation of nonionic polymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) on the zirconium dioxide surface was examined. The applied techniques (spectrophotometry, viscosimetry, potentiometric titration and microelectrophoresis) allowed characterization of the changes in structure and thickness of polymer adsorption layers with the increasing temperature. The rise of temperature favours more stretched conformation of polymer chains on the ZrO₂ surface, which results in higher adsorption and thicker adsorption layer. Moreover, these conformational changes of adsorbed macromolecules affect the electric (solid surface charge density) and electrokinetic (zeta potential) properties of the zirconia–polymer interface. The obtained data indicate that the polyvinyl alcohol adsorption has a greater influence on zirconia properties in comparison to that of PEG and PEO. It is due to the presence of acetate groups in the PVA macromolecules (degree of hydrolysis 97.5%), which undergo dissociation.     

Temperature influence of nonionic polyethylene oxide and anionic polyacrylamide on flocculation and dewatering behavior of kaolinite dispersions

Nonionic polyethylene oxide (PEO) and anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculation of kaolinite dispersions has been investigated at pH 7.5 in the temperature range 20-60 degrees C. The surface chemistry (zeta potential), particle interactions (shear yield stress), and dewatering behavior were also examined. An increase in the magnitude of zeta potential of kaolinite particles, in the absence of flocculant and at a fixed PEO and PAM concentration, with increasing temperature was observed. The zeta potential behavior of the flocculated particles indicated a decrease in the adsorbed polymer layer thickness, while at the same time, however, the adsorbed polymer density showed a significant increase with increasing temperature. These results suggest that polymer adsorption was accompanied by temperature-influenced conformation changes. The hydrodynamic diameter and supernatant solution viscosity of both polymers decreased with increasing temperature, consistent with a change in polymer-solvent interactions and conformation, prior to adsorption. The analysis of the free energy (DeltaG(ads)) of adsorption showed a strong temperature dependence and the adsorption process to be more entropically than enthalpically driven. The polymer conformation change and increased negative charge at the kaolinite particle surface with increasing temperature resulted in decreased polymer bridging and flocculation performance. Consequently, the shear yield stress and the rate and the extent of dewatering (consolidation) of the pulp decreased significantly at higher temperatures (>40 degrees C). The temperature effect was more pronounced in the presence of PEO than PAM, with 40 and 20 degrees C indicated as the optima for enhanced performance of the latter and former flocculants, respectively. The results demonstrate that a temperature-induced conformation change, together with polymer structure type, plays an important role in flocculation and dewatering behavior of kaolinite dispersions.     

Stability of Colloidal Silica Modified by Macromolecular Polyacrylic Acid (PAA) – Application of Turbidymetry Method

The effect of anionic polyacrlic acid (PAA) adsorption on fumed silica (SiO₂) surface on suspension stability was studied. The turbidymetry method was applied to monitor the changes in the suspension stability (using apparatus Turbiscan Lab^Expert with cooling module TLAb Cooler). PAA macromolecules contain dissociable carboxyl groups, therefore, all measurements were carried out at three pH values: 3, 6 and 9. Analysis of obtained transmission and backscattering curves and Turbiscan Stability Indexes (TSI) allowed determination of the most probable mechanism of the stability of the studied systems. The PAA adsorption has the greatest impact on the silica suspension stability at pH 3 (significant improvement of its stability). On the other hand, the presence of polyacrylic acid at pH 6 causes a noticeable deterioration of system stability conditions. At pH 9, polymer minimally influences the stability of SiO₂ suspension.     

Effect of solution pH on the stability of mixed silica -alumina suspension in the presence of polyacrylic acid (PAA) with different molecular weights

The influence of solution pH (in the range 3–9) on mixed silica-alumina suspension in the absence and presence of polyacrylic acid (PAA) was studied. The composition of the adsorbent was SiO₂ (97%) and Al₂O₃ (3%). The turbidimetry method was applied to record changes in the stability of the investigated systems as a function of time. It was shown that the suspension without the polymer is less stable at pH 3, whereas at pH 6 and 9, the systems were stable. PAA with molecular weights 100 000 and 240 000 at pH 3 (improvement of system stability conditions) and PAA 2 000 at pH 6 (deterioration of suspension stability) have a great effect on the silica-alumina suspension stability. The stabilization-flocculation properties of polyacrylic acid are a result of a specific conformation of its chains on the solid surface where it depends on the solution pH and the polymer molecular weight.     

Facile Fabrication of Zirconia Modified Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes for Electrochemical Sensing of Phosphate

We report here a facile method to immobilize zirconia nanoparticles on a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode (designated as ZrO₂‐SPCE) for phosphate sensor application. Simply by ultrasonicating a bare SPCE in a ZrO₂ slurry, ZrO₂ nanoparticles can be immobilized effectively on the electrode surface as verified by surface characterization evidences. Using ferricyanide as a redox probe, an increase in the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of ferricyanide upon adsorption of phosphate on ZrO₂ is used for the determination of phosphate. This ZrO₂‐SPCE phosphate sensor shows a wide linear range up to 1 mM and a detection limit of 1.69 µM (S/N=3). Practical applicability of the ZrO₂‐SPCE is demonstrated by detecting phosphate content in human blood samples.     

Electokinetic and adsorption properties of different titanium dioxides at the solid/solution interface

Six samples of titanium dioxide of different phase compositions and specific surface areas have been characterized by XRD, Raman-and FTIR spectroscopy, adsorption of nitrogen, electrophoresis. Adsorption of Zn(II) ions at the TiO₂/NaCl aqueous solution interface as well as the effect of adsorption on the structure of electrical double layer have been studied. The influence of ionic strength, pH and presence of ions on the adsorption of Zn(II) ions at the TiO₂/NaCl solution interface have also been investigated. The zeta potential, surface charge density, parameters of adsorption edge pH_50% and ΔpH_10–90% for different concentrations of basic electrolyte have been determined. Studied unpurified samples showed lower values of isoelectric point pH_iep compared with literature data due to the presence of anion impurities. The antibate dependence between pH_iep values and particle size has been established. Adsorption of Zn(II) ions using monophase samples is completed at a lower pH than for the biphase TiO₂. Appearance of the point CR3 is associated with the charge turnover from positive to negative at high values of pH and formation of Zn(OH)₂.      

油炸圈饼状Cd(OH)2微结构的合成与可控生长机理

聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）表面活性剂的作用下,在温和的低温水溶液中,合成了Cd(OH)2油炸圈饼状微米结构。这种结构是由单晶结构的六方片状Cd(OH)2按一定排列方式自组装而成。在羰基修饰的PAM（PAM-COOH）表面活性剂作用下,得到中心有孔的油炸圈饼纳米结构。可能的生长机理为表面活性剂控制下Cd(OH)2纳米片经历有序连接过程,最终形成油炸圈饼状结构。聚合物诱引晶体生长与调控纳米晶自组装将提供了一条有效的路径来合成具有复杂形貌与特殊结构的无机和无机-有机杂化材料。     

Effect of polyacrylic acid on the corrosion behaviour of aluminium in sulphuric acid solution

Electrochemical techniques using both ac and dc as well as surface analyses approach were used to investigate the corrosion inhibition characteristics of polyacrylic acid (PAA) for pure cast aluminium in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at 30 ± 1 °C. The effect of iodide ion additives was also studied. The results obtained indicate that PAA inhibited the corrosion of pure cast aluminium in the acid medium by adsorption onto the metal surface following Frumkin adsorption isotherm model. Inhibition efficiency increases with an increase in PAA concentration and synergistically enhanced by the addition of iodide ions. A mixed inhibition mechanism is proposed for the inhibitive effects of PAA as revealed by potentiodynamic polarisation technique. Synergism parameter evaluated was found to be greater than unity, indicating that the enhanced inhibition efficiency of PAA on addition of iodide ions was synergistic in nature. Fourier transform infrared analyses revealed that the synergistic effect of iodide ions and PAA is due to co-adsorption of iodide ions and PAA molecules which is cooperative in nature.     

Effects of heavy metals and oxalate on the zeta potential of magnetite

Zeta potential is a function of surface coverage by charged species at a given pH, and it is theoretically determined by the activity of the species in solution. The zeta potentials of particles occurring in soils, such as clay and iron oxide minerals, directly affect the efficiency of the electrokinetic soil remediation. In this study, zeta potential of natural magnetite was studied by conducting electrophoretic mobility measurements in single and binary solution systems. It was shown that adsorption of charged species of Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), and Cd(2+) and precipitation of their hydroxides at the mineral surface are dominant processes in the charging of the surface in high alkaline suspensions. Taking Pb(2+) as an example, three different mechanisms were proposed for its effect on the surface charge: if pH<5, competitive adsorption with H(3)O(+); if 56, precipitation of heavy metal hydroxides prevails. Oxalate anion changed the associated surface charge by neutralizing surface positive charges by complexing with iron at the surface, and ultimately reversed the surface to a negative zeta potential. Therefore the adsorption ability of heavy metal ions ultimately changed in the presence of oxalate ion. The changes in the zeta potentials of the magnetite suspensions with solution pH before and after adsorption were utilized to estimate the adsorption ability of heavy metal ions. The mechanisms for heavy metals and oxalate adsorption on magnetite were discussed in the view of the experimental results and published data.     

Nanocrystalline undoped tetragonal and cubic zirconia synthesized using poly-acrylamide as gel and matrix

Nanocrystalline zirconia powders with tetragonal and cubic structure have been prepared from ZrO₂-polyacrylamide gel and precipitated zirconia in polyacrylamide matrix respectively. X-ray diffraction results of the samples annealed at high temperatures show that the tetragonal and cubic form, obtained from the gel, are fairly stable in air up to 1,173 K and partially stable in inert atmosphere, up to 1,273 K. The stability at such high temperatures is due to the presence of oxygen vacancies in zirconia sample, incorporated in the process of decomposition of polymer.     

Adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) onto the surface of titanium dioxide and the colloidal stability of aqueous suspension

The adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in aqueous suspension onto the surface of TiO(2) nanoparticles was investigated. FTIR spectroscopic data provided evidence in support of hydrogen bonding and chemical interaction in the case of the PAA-TiO(2) system. Adsorption isotherms demonstrated that part of the PAA initially added to the suspension was adsorbed onto the TiO(2) surface, after which there was a gradual attainment of an adsorption plateau. The adsorption density of PAA was found to increase with an increase of PAA molecular weight, while it decreased with an increase of pH. The thickness of the PAA adsorption layer was calculated based on measurements of suspension viscosities in the absence and presence of PAA. It was shown that the thickness of the adsorption layer increased with the increase of pH, PAA molecular weight, and its concentration. The surface charge density, the diffuse charge density, and the zeta potential of TiO(2) varied distinctly after PAA adsorption. The shift of pH(iep) toward a lower pH value was observed in the presence of PAA. PAA was found to stabilize the suspension of TiO(2) nanoparticles through electrosteric repulsion. The influence of factors such as PAA molecular weight and its concentration on the colloidal stability of the aqueous suspension was also investigated.     

Adsorption of polyacrylic acid on aluminium oxide: DRIFT spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT) spectroscopy was used to study the adsorption process of the water-soluble polyacrylic acid (PAA) polymer on hydrous δ-Al₂O₃. Vibrational assignment of PAA, sodium polyacrylate, (Na–PA) and the PA-oxide surface complex was achieved by comparison of observed band position and intensity in the DRIFT spectra with wavenumbers and intensities from ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. The presented data of polyacrylic acid suggest that IR data calculated ab initio on relatively short oligomers (quantum-mechanical oligomer approach) may provide valuable information regarding the interpretation of polyelectrolyte infrared spectra. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to sorb PAA onto the δ-Al₂O₃ surface. The results obtained from DRIFT studies were compared with adsorption isotherm experiments in order to relate the level of PAA coverage to the nature of the surface complex. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on PAA/Al₂O₃ clusters were used to model possible surface complexes. Strong correlation were found between theoretical and observed DRIFT frequencies of the antisymmetric R-COO⁻ vibration. A number of possible configurations of the polyacrylic acid/aluminate surface complex were tested via ab initio calculations. These possible configurations included different di-aluminium octahedral Al³⁺ surface models. Results obtained from adsorption isotherm experiments, DRIFT spectra and ab initio calculations indicate that the carboxylate oxygens bridge an Al³⁺-octahedral dimer [Al₂(OH)₂4(H₂O)2(OH)] in a ligand-exchange inner sphere complex.     

Adsorption of citrate ions on hydroxyapatite synthetized by various methods

The specific adsorption of citric acid ions at hydroxyapatite interface was investigated by the means of radioisotope method (¹⁴C) as a function of citric acid ions concentration, NaCl concentration and pH. Application of the hydroxyapatite has become wide in the biomaterial field as the Ca₁₀(OH)₂(PO₄)₆ possess biocompatibility with human hard tissue. Hydroxyapatite was synthesized using three different methods. The physical properties of the resulting powder were characterized by DTA/TG, XRD, AFM and SEM microscopy. Physicochemical qualities characterizing the electrical double layer of the hydroxyapatite/NaCl solution interface were determined. The zeta potential and the adsorption of citric acid molecule were studied as a function of pH. The point of zero charge and the isoelectric point of samples were determined. Electrical double layer parameters of hydroxyapatite/NaCl interface are influenced by a synthesis method. The points pH_pzc and pH_IEP for sample 1 are pH_pzc 7.5 and pH_IEP 3; for sample 2 pH_pzc 7.05 and pH_IEP 3, for smaple 3 pH_pzc 6.7 and pH_IEP 3. Temperature has weak influence both on pure substance and with citric acid adsorbed, as derivatographic analysis has shown, and characterization of hydroxyapatite structure may be carried out by this thermal analysis. Two phenomena are responsible for citric acid adsorption: phosphate group’s replacement at hydroxyapatite surface by citric ions parallel to intraspherical complexes formation.     

Determination of pH value of isoelectric solution and identification of passive iron surface phases using immersion method

Using the method of phase modeling, the pH values of solutions corresponding to the uncharged surface of passive iron and ferric oxide γ-Fe₂O₃ (pH₀) are compared. According to the theory of connected places, the charge of metal oxide surface is determined by the adsorption or desorption of hydrogen ions leading to a change in the potential drop at the oxide/solution interface. Preliminarily passivated iron electrode was washed with twice-distilled water and placed into 0.5 M NaNO₃ solution with various pH values; the variation in the potential (ΔE) with time was studied. The pH₀ value for passive electrode under the open-circuit conditions was determined by the dependence of ΔE on the pH value (pH₀ 6.2 ± 0.1). The pH₀ value was close to that for γ-Fe₂O₃ (pH₀ 6.2), which was determined by the method of potentiometrical titration of oxide suspension in the nitrate solution. The introduction of surface-active ions Ba²⁺ and Cl^? changes the charge of passive iron surface: Ba²⁺ ions increase the electrode potential, while Cl^? ions decrease it. Comparing the pH₀ values for passive electrode and metal oxides, one can identify the composition of passive electrode surface.     

Study on the interaction between anionic and cationic latex particles and Portland cement

The interaction between organic latex polymers and the surface of hydrating cement was investigated by measuring the zeta potential and adsorbed amount of polymer on cement. First, differently charged model latex particles were synthesized in aqueous media by well-known emulsion polymerization technique. The latex polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Electrokinetic latex surface properties were investigated by means of streaming potential measurements using a particle charge detector (PCD). It is shown that the anionic latexes adsorb a considerable amount of Ca²⁺ from the cement pore solution. Next, adsorption of the latex polymers on the surface of hydrating cement was confirmed by zeta potential measurements using the electroacoustic method. A water to cement ratio in the cement paste as low as 0.5 was studied, representing actual conditions in mortar and concrete. Additionally, adsorption isotherms were determined in a sedimentation test using the depletion method. For all latex polymers, Langmuir type adsorption isotherms were found. The latex dosages required to achieve saturated adsorption on the cement surface obtained from zeta potential measurements correspond well with those determined in the sedimentation test. Electron microscopy photographs confirm that the charged latex polymers adsorb selectively on surface areas of hydrating cement showing opposite charge. This way, domains of organic latex polymers exist on the cement surface. They provide adhesion between the inorganic cement matrix and the organic polymer film formed later on by particle coalescence as a result of cement hydration and drying.